Byrne, Farmer win 2006 Junior Championships

Published 12:00 am Friday, August 4, 2006

NATCHEZ &8212; This week&8217;s Natchez Junior Golf Championships at Duncan Park Golf Course featured a familiar theme.

It ended with Jordan Farmer and Mary Kate Byrne coming away with the trophies.

The Cathedral High graduates both won their fourth-straight title in the junior championships Thursday; Farmer by five strokes over Cathedral teammate Matthew Hall and Byrne uncontested in a field with no lady golfers her age.

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Farmer shot three-under in 36 holes over two days, while Byrne shot 81-84.

Austin McFarland, a Franklin County golfer, took home the win in the Boys&8217; 12-to-14-year-old division. Carolyn Mullins and Alex Miller took wins as the only golfers competing in the 12-to-14-year-old girls and 11-and-under boys divisions.

After shooting 70 to take a commanding four-stroke lead into Thursday&8217;s round, Farmer said he was able to relax and let things happen despite a few setbacks.

&8220;I had a rough start, but I just hung in there,&8221; the Delta State-bound winner said. &8220;(Matt and I) always have good competition. You can always fall back on a lead like I had when you&8217;re on the final day. I play this course pretty well, so it helped out.&8221;

Hall, who is heading to Ole Miss with the goal of walking on the Rebel golf team, said walking the course with his teammate provided some great times.

&8220;Jordan&8217;s just a great golfer,&8221; he said. &8220;I picked up a few shots on him this morning on the back nine (the older golfers started on hole 10), but he got back up on the front nine. It was really fun just walking the course with him. We&8217;ve been friends for a long time. He may have won, but I&8217;ll take a 72 (Hall&8217;s final round score) any day of the week.

&8220;If I had to finish second to anyone, I&8217;m glad it was him.&8221;

Byrne said she wasn&8217;t particularly happy with her round, but was happy to leave for Centenary College on a winning note.

&8220;I wish I would&8217;ve shot better, but I always say that,&8221; she said. &8220;I&8217;ve won this the last four years and most of them have been without any other girls here, but I&8217;m happy to see Carolyn Mullins playing and winning. She&8217;s going to be a great golfer. She already is.&8221;

Farmer said the win put the perfect cap on the perfect summer heading into college.

&8220;This is all I can play in it now,&8221; Farmer said. &8220;I&8217;m 18, now. It was fun while it lasted. This really has been a great summer. I got the club championship on top of the two-ball championship Matt and I won, and then you add this. It&8217;s been great.&8221;